Long Prairie Trail, Illinois, United States
3.0 (4 reviews) Spent Ranking #3 in Caledonia Biking Trails • Hiking Trails
Long Prairie Trail
At around 15 miles long this is a good distance for an out and back ride. The trail surface is asphalt, however it is in rough shape in spots. Between Capron and Poplar Grove is particularly rough, in the fall covered with leaves the bumps can be hard to spot. The bridge transitions vary, with one particularly bad one, be sure to slow down for bridges and approach with caution. There is some good signage with geography and history of the area, and at the eastern terminus and near Caledonia Road crossing on the west end has water. I would be hesitant to use a narrow tired road bike in the fall of the year when asphalt surface divots could be hidden.
Address
, Caledonia, Illinois, United States, Postal Code: 61011.
Current local date and time now
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 0:39
User Ratings
3.0 based on (4 reviews)
Reviews
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2Paul G 5:00 PM Sep 23, 2022
A Disappointing Bone- and Teeth-Rattling Experience!
The trail surface is rough in MANY places for all 14.5 miles, but it's especially rough on the eastern half of the trail. I hadn't been on the LP Trail for a dozen years, but I remember it fondly for its picturesque views, the small towns it goes through, the helpful and informative signs along the eastern half, and its rural surroundings all along the trail, which is why I went back recently. I rode west from the McHenry/Boone County line parking lot to where the LP Trail connects to the Stone Bridge Trail and then back again. In several places at the east end, the trail surface switches from solid asphalt to crumbled and deteriorated asphalt gravel and then back again to solid asphalt. It was a relief to ride for 2.5 miles (or so) on the crushed limestone surface that Carla H mentions in her June 2019 review, but the relief lasts for only a short time.. The rough ride began again when the trail surface switched back to solid asphalt, which continued for the last 10+ miles. The rough surface results from MANY deep divots and substantial cracks in the pavement and from a number of bridge crossings mentioned in another review, more than one of which has a several-inches-high speed bump. It was a bone- and teeth-rattling experience that significantly detracted from what once was an exceedingly good bike ride. I realize that it's expensive to maintain 14+ mile trail, but this one certainly demonstrates the result of not maintaining it.
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2Carla H 5:00 PM Jul 7, 2018
Rough ride
I have riden on this bike path from the time it opened. Today was a very rough ride. What happened? There was a few spots between Capron and Country Line Rd where there was gravel. Almost wiped out. Very rough and bumping ride. Pavement is splitting in a few spots between Capron and Poplar Grove. Havent gone north of Caledonia yet but that is my next trip. I use to roller blade but it isn't smooth anymore and now I go elsewhere. This was a beautiful path with much scenery to be seen but you aren't able to see if you are constantly looking out for bumps on the path. Help!!
